Tate & Lyle Ventures is among a group of companies investing more than $3 million in fine chemicals firm Allylix (San Diego) to produce cost-effective terpenes. Allylix specializes in a process that allows terpenes to be produced via fermentation in yeast. This technology could replace the costly and laborious extraction of terpenes from plants and enables the cost effective production of flavors and fragrances for perfumes, personal care, food and household markets. Initially, Allylix will focus on a class of terpenes called sesquiterpenes. The company will use the capital to launch an initial product line for the flavor and fragrance market, however, a timescale for this has not yet been disclosed.

Of the investment, Tate & Lyle Ventures managing partner Simon Barnes said, “This is a significant development for the fragrance and flavor market. Not only can Allylix produce fragrances and flavors via a cost-effective route but the technology is also there to create entirely novel fragrances and flavors. Allylix’s fermentation technology is an excellent fit with our fund’s focus on renewable ingredients and bio-technology.” Tate & Lyle Ventures was set up last year to help focus on next-generation ingredients.